Daily GK Updates 13th December 2016, Important Current Affairs

1. IAF organizes
seminar to increase awareness about organ donation
i. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had organized a seminar to increase awareness
about organ donation.
ii. Around 500 air warriors and their families joined hands to strengthen the
organ donation movement in the country.

2. Customers making digital payment for
petrol, diesel to get 0.75% discount
i. Customers making digital payment for purchase of petrol and diesel will get
a discount of 0.75% on the sale price of fuel. The discount on payments will be
available on using credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets or Prepaid Loyalty
Cards.
ii. The amount of discount will be credited into customers account by way of
cash back within maximum three working days of the transaction.

3. Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approves
recommendations of 7th pay commission
i. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the seventh
pay commission. The pay hike almost 10 to 15% in the pay of employees will be
implemented from January 17, 2017.
ii. Decision in this regard was taken based on recommendation committee
constituted by state government for the implementation of seventh pay
commission.
iii. This move will benefit almost 25 lakhs employees and pensioners in state.

4. 2 Indians in US’ Richest
Entrepreneurs Under 40 list: Forbesi. Two Indian-origin men Vivek Ramaswamy and Apoorva Mehta have figured in
Forbes magazine’s second annual list of wealthiest entrepreneurs under the age
of 40.
ii. The list was topped by Facebook founder Mark Zuckeberg. Vivek Ramaswamy, a
successful biotech entrepreneur was ranked 24th on with a networth of $600
million and Apoorva Mehta (cofounder of Instacart, a grocery delivery service)
stands at 31st spot with a $360 million networth.

5. India ranks 4th most vacation
deprived country globally: Report
i. The Expedia ‘Vacation Deprivation report 2016 has ranked India fourth most
vacation deprived country globally. In India, 63% take fewer days of the
vacations that they get. First three countries are Spain (68%), UAE (68%),
Malaysia (67%) and South Korea (64%).

6. Donald Trump picks Rex Tillerson as
Secretary of State
i. US President-elect Donald Trump has picked ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as
his Secretary of State, top diplomatic position in US. If approved by the
Senate, Tillerson will replace John Kerry as the Secretary of State.
ii. Tillerson is a veteran chief executive who has had extensive overseas
business dealings. He has close ties to the Russian government.
iii. He had driven Exxon’s expansion in Russia for decades and opposed US
sanctions imposed on Russia for its seizure of Crimea.

7. Priyanka Chopra Appointed UNICEF
Global Goodwill Ambassador
i. Indian Actress Priyanka Chopra was appointed as UNICEF’s Global Goodwill
Ambassador. It was announced by soccer player David Beckham and British actress
Millie Bobby Brown on the eve of UNICEF’s 70th anniversary in New York. Earlier
in 2016, she was appointed as UNICEF’s National Ambassador in India with
responsibility of working on social issues related to children’s rights and
adolescence.

8. Pankaj Advani wins 11th World Billiards
Championship
i. Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani has won his 11th World Billiards (150-Up
format) Championships title. In the summit clash held in Bengaluru, Karnataka
he defeated Peter Gilchrist of Singapore by six games to three. It was his
overall 16th world title.

9. Microsoft launches India’s first
Cybersecurity Engagement Centre in New Delhi
i. Software giant Microsoft India has launched its first full-scale
Cybersecurity Engagement Centre (CSEC) in New Delhi. It is Microsoft’s seventh
Cybersecurity Centre in the world.
ii. It will function as a satellite to
the its Redmond Digital Crimes Unit (DCU).

10. India, Indonesia sign three
agreements to enhance strategic partnership
i. India and Indonesia have signed three agreements in various areas to enhance
strategic partnership. These agreements were signed after delegation level
talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting President of Indonesia
Joko Widodo in New Delhi.
11. Antonio Guterres sworn in as UN Secretary General
i. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres (67) was sworn in as the
9th UN Secretary-General. He was administered the Oath of Office by Peter
Thomson, President of UN General Assembly at special plenary meeting.
ii. He succeeds Ban Ki-moon and shall have five-year term beginning January 1,
2017.

13. Sukhbir launches Punjab's first
amphibious bus at Harike Pattan Lake
i. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal launched the first amphibious bus of the state at
Harike Pattan Lake. After the launch, he took a ride on the bus to the
confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers.

14. Cristiano Ronaldo wins 2016 FIFA
Ballon d’Or Award
i. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (31) from Portugal has won the
prestigious 2016 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award. He has earned this title of world’s
best football player for fourth time. Earlier he had won the Ballon d’Or in
2008, 2013 and 2014.